📖 Today’s PolitykiPA Guide. A high-stakes fight for prediction markets. ICE memo reveals timeline and scale of PA warehouse plans. Can PA or local authorities block ICE plans? Six years of devastating Girl Scout cookie sales
🎶 Your morning, pick me up. Last Friday Night (TGIF). Katy Perry
Weather in Pennsylvania
🌂 Gibsonia | Chance AM Rain, partly radiant, 61
🌂 Carlisle | AM Rain, mostly shadowy, 50
☔ Śródmieście | Rain until 1 p.m., 46
Sports PA
🏀 Sixes (30-25) | Atlanta 107-117 | I was sitting in New Orleans | Sun in Minnesota
🔈 What we hear. EMILYs List announces Majority Mission aims to expand the battlefield in the U.S. House of Representatives, create multiple paths to victory, and flip the nation’s most competitive seats to Democratic women, including Democratic women Carol Obando-Derstine (PA-07), Paige Cognetti (PA-08) i Janelle Stelson (PA-10).
💬 Tips. There is no tax here. PoliticsPA is Pennsylvania’s leading source of unbiased political news and analysis. Tips and press releases can be submitted [email protected].
📕 PoliticsPA Guide was developed by Steve Ulrich. To read in your browser click here. Has this email been sent to you? Subscribe for free.
The most crucial story
1. PA calls it gambling. Trump calls it finance. There is a fierce competition for forecast markets
“There is a high-stakes fight going on between us President Donald Trump administration and states like Pennsylvania and New Jersey on regulating prediction markets – online platforms that allow users to bet on everything from sports and elections to the weather.
States that have legalized sports betting in recent years say prediction markets amount to illicit gambling, putting consumers at risk and threatening tax revenues generated by regulated entities such as casinos.’ | Questioner from Philadelphia
Elsewhere
Dems start seventh with experienced campaign teams, key endorsements. “Bob Brooks, candidate for the 7th Congressional District, made headlines last year when his campaign hired a high-profile strategist to help elect New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and win the expected public support for Gov. Josh Shapiro. But what about his Democratic primary opponents? They also hired seasoned political consultants and amassed impressive endorsements, an overview of their campaigns shows. ” | Lehigh Valley Chair
The National Park Service begins restoring slavery exhibits at the president’s home. “Nearly a month after the abrupt dismantling of slavery exhibits from the grounds of the President’s House, National Park Service workers began reinstalling the panels late Thursday morning ahead of the court’s deadline.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
Country
2. ICE memo reveals timing and scale of PA warehouse plans
“ICE’s memo provides insight into the agency’s intentions for warehouses it has quietly purchased in Pennsylvania and across the country as part of a sweeping $38.3 billion plan to expand detention capacity.
The first three pages of the memo provide a broad overview of the broader plan, including the agency’s timeline and the due diligence it says it has performed on each facility to ensure it does not overwhelm local resources.
Several of ICE’s claims stand in stark contrast to what local and Shapiro administration officials have said about the potential impact of detention centers in Berks and Schuylkill counties on water, sewer capacity and more.’ | PA reflector
Elsewhere
HD-200: Rabin will not seek re-election to the House of Representatives; It focuses on the PA-03 competition. “Rep. Chris Rabb (Philadelphia) announced Thursday that he will not seek re-election to the 200th Legislative District seat to focus on the Democratic nomination for the 3rd Congressional District.” | PoliticsPA
HD-22: Tiburcio, Smith compete for Open Allentown House spot. “In the 22nd Legislative District, Democrat Ana Tiburcio and Republican Robert E. Smith Jr. are meeting to fill the remaining term of Josh Siegel, who resigned his seat to become Lehigh County Executive.” | PoliticsPA
Two bills supporting local journalism have been approved by a House committee. “Introduced by State Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Philadelphia, this legislative package aims to address the growing shortage of local news sources in the state.” | PhillyDaily
Around the Republic of Poland
3. Can AP or local authorities block ICE’s plans for warehouse detention facilities? Lehigh Valley officials debate options
“The recent sale of Berks and Schuylkill County warehouses to the federal government has left Lehigh Valley officials wondering how local and state governments could block or regulate the operation of federally owned detention facilities.
Legal options seem restricted, but Governor Josh Shapiro affirms state environmental review powers and local officials examine their regulatory role as opposition to expansion of detention centers grows.’ | Morning talk in Allentown
Elsewhere
Residents and Democrats are calling on Lancaster County authorities to withdraw from ICE contracts. “Citing Lancaster County’s reputation as a haven for refugees and Christian morality, residents and progressive activists on Thursday called on County Sheriff Chris Leppler to withdraw from an agreement with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Administration to allow deputies in his office to assist federal authorities in enforcing immigration laws.” | LNP
Allegheny County is launching a $4 million initiative to revitalize its business districts. “Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato said Main Streets Allegheny will pool money through grants, loans and county-level investments to help municipalities create vibrant community spaces.” | Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper
Report: Job growth in metro Pittsburgh lags behind right-to-work regions. “The institute’s analysis of the region and nine other similarly-sized metros across the country found that cities in states without mandatory union laws — under the federal Right to Work Act — grew faster since 2000 and recovered faster from the pandemic.” | Central Square
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
1 item
5. A girl from Pittsburgh crushes Girl Scout cookie sales, selling over 80,000. boxes
“A juvenile girl from Pittsburgh has become a social media sensation as a top seller of Girl Scout cookies, with sales exceeding 80,000 boxes this season.
Six-year-old Pim Neill initially set herself a modest goal: to support her troop go camping and experience wildlife.
Pim’s dad, Lucas Anorak-Neill, told “GMA” that the family helped her reach buyers this season by using the website TikTok, which has since gained huge popularity on the Internet.” | Good morning America
Thank you for starting your day with us.
Enjoy your weekend. See you on Monday.
